How the world's first webcam made a coffee pot famous(bbc.co.uk)Computer technology now moves so fast it's hard to remember life before the internet. But just 19 years ago at the beginning of the nineties, the fledgling world wide web had no search engines, no social networking sites, and no webcam.
The scientists credited with inventing the first webcam - thereby launching the revolution that would bring us video chats and live webcasts - stumbled upon the idea in pursuit of something far more old-fashioned: hot coffee.more...11/26/2012

Hi-tech dad makes sure he can keep an eye on the kids(thisisbristol.co.uk)A TECHNOLOGY fan has built a device that lets him keep an eye on his children wherever he is in the world.
Rupert Plumridge, 35, of Emersons Green, uses a night vision camera to watch his kids on a live feed on his tablet, smartphone or laptop.The webcam can be moved via remote control, has night vision and a speaker so that parents can read their kids a bed time story.
Mr Plumridge, a research manager at Lloyds Bank said that it cost him around £50 to put together the device.
Mr Plumridge, who has a two-year-old daughter Lily and six-month old baby Dominic, first started the project in 2010.more...11/19/2012

Field trips ditched for online experiences(http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/field-trips-d)THE school excursion could be a thing of the past, with more public schools opting for virtual getaways instead of traditional field trips.
Rather than visit Taronga Zoo, the National Museum or Sydney Opera House, pupils are classroom-bound and watch the action via webcam on "incursions".
Experts argue the cost-cutting move restricts children's psychological development but the NSW education department says incursions are preferable to complicated trips.
It says 100,000 pupils from urban and regional public schools had incursions in the past 12 months.more...11/13/2012